Bank on Bhoys in 4/1 treble

Live on BTSport 2: Sat 12.30: Celtic head a 4/1 treble (BetVictor) in the first of Peter Sharkey’s three Scottish Premiership selections this week.

The glut of early-season fixtures, coupled with the fact that clubs tend to field a larger than average number of debutants in August means that bookmakers often base some of their early season match odds on the outcome of recent contests between two teams, a process punters can emulate easily enough.

The recent history of matches involving Celtic and Inverness, who meet on Saturday lunchtime, have tended to favour the champions who head to the Highlands as BetVictor’s 8/15 favourites. Celtic scored 14 times in four league matches against Thistle (13/2, William Hill) last term, conceding only twice. Bet365 post 5/6 about the match yielding more than 2.5 goals, while a 3-1 away win is priced at 12/1 by Stan James.

Contests between Kilmarnock and Motherwell have been close in recent seasons. The pair’s last nine duels have finished with three victories apiece and three draws, a run which adds appeal to Skybet’s 12/5 for it to end all square on Saturday. Motherwell are Ladbrokes’ 11/8 favourites, but the 6/1 chalked by Betway about it finishing 1-1 is worthy of further consideration.

In four league duels against Aberdeen last season, St Johnstone managed just one goal. They’ve beaten Aberdeen only once in the pair’s last ten league contests, a record which has persuaded Winner.com to install the Dons as 13/10 favourites to secure maximum points at McDiarmid Park.

St Johnstone kick off priced as William Hill’s 9/5 underdogs, while Ladbrokes chalk 15/4 against the Perthshire side enjoying a one-goal margin of victory. As insurance, Betway post 10/3 for it to end as a score draw.

Elsewhere, Dundee United (4/7, Winner.com) should have little difficulty justifying their odds-on status when they host Ross County (11/2, Paddy Power), despite Ross hammering the Terrors 3-0 when the pair met in January. Similarly, St Mirren (6/4, Skybet) are attractively priced to overhaul Dundee (2/1, Ladbrokes) when the duo meet at Love Street.

Partick and Hamilton last met when they both occupied First Division berths in 2012-13, Partick having a clear edge over the Accies in their four league meetings. History promises to repeat itself on Saturday in a fixture Thistle kick off as bet365’s even money favourites. They’re 23/10 (BetVictor.com) to be in front at the end of both halves and 15/2 (Stan James) to win 2-0.